Global New Year Celebrations Curtailed Amid Security Fears as London Presses On

Authorities from Sydney to Paris and Tokyo have moved to scrap concerts and public countdowns following warnings of potential terror threats and crowd safety risks. The cancellations come after the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced it had foiled an alleged New Year’s Eve bombing plot near Los Angeles, arresting four suspects during what prosecutors described as a rehearsal in the Mojave Desert.

In Australia, officials cancelled New Year’s Eve events at Bondi Beach, citing public safety concerns and heightened sensitivity following a recent deadly shooting. In Paris, a large music concert planned for the Champs-Elysees was called off after police warned of crowd-control risks, though the city’s main fireworks display is still expected to go ahead.

Tokyo authorities have also cancelled the popular countdown outside Shibuya Station, pointing to fears of overcrowding, stampedes and public disorder.

Despite the global clampdown, London is set to proceed with its annual fireworks along the Thames, with officials saying robust security measures are in place. The mixed approach underscores how cities are balancing public celebration with growing concerns over safety as the new year approaches.

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